The Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS) seems to have divided the parties ahead of polling. The right-wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) “strongly favours” CBCS. But the Congress-backed National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the Left-wing All India Students’ Association (AISA) are opposed to it. The AAP-backed Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) remains ambiguous about its position.

“The CBCS is a welcome reform in the area of higher education. It is much needed. It was brought in by the Congress in 2008 and we did not oppose it then. It was reintroduced by the BJP and we are not opposed to it now because we believe it will change the current system for the better. The system has proved to be a success wherever it has been implemented and in any manner. We recognise that there are problems in its implementation and the ABVP will ensure those are addressed,” said Saket Bahuguna, ABVP’s Delhi state secretary.

The NSUI, on the other hand, has been trying to tap students’ sentiments against the CBCS with its “Halla Bol” campaign. “It is alarming to see how the government is trying to destroy centres of knowledge and innovation…,” said NSUI president Roji M John.

AISA too is against CBCS. “Our surveys have revealed students don’t want CBCS. It is being forced on them,” said Sunny Kumar from AISA. CYSS Delhi vice-president Anmol Panwar said, “We did not witness strong opposition to CBCS in the surveys we conducted. But our surveys revealed that an infrastructure audit is needed and there is a need to fill teachers’ vacancies…”